get one's act together
To become serious, organized, worthwhile, etc.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You need to get your act together before the exam.”
“If he does not get his act together soon, he will lose his job.”
“After years of aimless wandering, she finally decided to get her act together and pursue a serious career in medicine.”
A mid-20th-century idiom, the phrase draws a comparison between personal organisation and the professional preparation required to rehearse and polish a theatrical performance. It posits the individual as a performer who must assemble the constituent parts of an act before the curtain may reasonably rise.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act of Congress
An authorization that is extremely difficult to obtain, especially in a timely fashion.
- 04
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 05
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 06
act out
To perform something specific.
- 07
act the hypocrite
To behave deceitfully or hypocritically; to dissemble.
- 08
act up
To misbehave; to cause trouble.
Last updated August 10, 2026